STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A family whose Freeborn Street home was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Sandy has seen their dwelling ravaged again -- this time by callous vandals.

Nancy and Reuben Fisher had been living with friends in an apartment while repairs were being made to the home they've lived in for 35 years. According to NBC News, the couple was looking forward to being back in their home for the holidays, but on Thursday they walked through their front door only to find their living room again destroyed.

"We were almost back," Mrs. Fisher lamented. "We were looking to come back next week.

"This, for me, represented a new beginning."

The vandals ransacked the living room, shattered glass, smashed holes in the new sheet rock, broke the new refrigerator, strewed beer cans, urinated on the floor and even destroyed the lone ornament on the family's Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

"I saw everything was devastated and I just broke down," Mrs. Fisher said.

"Somebody just went in and broke their home," said Aiman Youssef, head of the Midland Avenue Neighborhood Relief Center. "It's horrible."

Youssef -- who saw his own home and business destroyed by Sandy -- delivered food and supplies to the family Thursday.

According to NBC News, police responded and removed potential evidence.

Mrs. Fisher, who said she's still hopeful that the family will be able to use their home over Christmas, wondered why her home was targeted.

She told NBC News: "I don't have hatred in my heart, but I don't understand why someone would do something like this."

It's not the first time criminals have taken advantage of Sandy victims.

Immediately after the superstorm, the NYPD reported that Staten Island accounted for 20 of the 123 storm-related arrests made citywide, with roughly half stemming from burglary incidents.

Earlier this month, Gregory Fantino, 41, was caught lurking inside a Sandy-damaged house on Mapleton Avenue; he was arrested on charges of burglary and criminal trespass.

In perhaps the most egregious such case, 90-year-old Mary Roberts of New Dorp Beach rebuilt her Center Place house only to fall victim to a burglar who struck while she was on vacation in July.

Four separate fires were set inside the home to cover up the crime.

Michael A. Vanwinkle of Oakwood has been indicted in connection with the arson and burglary.

Mrs. Roberts told the Advance she hasn't the heart to take up residence again on Mapleton Avenue, even assuming the house could be repaired.